Photoelectric target practice pistol



P 6, 1966 J. G. RABINOWITZ ETAL 3, ,0

PHOTOELECTRIC TARGET PRACTICE PISTOL Filed Sept. '7, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet1 PIC-3J3 INVENTORS. JACOB G. RABINOWITZ y VICTOR YAGER ATTORNEY Sept.6, 1966 J. G. RABINOWITZ ETAL PHOTDELECTRIC TARGET PRACTICE PISTOL 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. '7, 1962 INVENTORS. JACOB G. RABINOWITZV|CTOR YAGER Y B 0 a. H H mm 1| I w mm k h r ::,1.| com on vm N 0mm onQF 0 mm .7 mb 8 ow QM. k; 4 s 1 Sn mm OF 5:: om F m l \8 N hm omATTORNEY United States Patent 3,271 032 PHOTOELECTRIC TARGET PRACTICEPISTOL Jacob G. Rabinowitz, Jamaica, and Victor Yager, Long Island City,N.Y., assignors to Clairex Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation ofNew York Filed Sept. 7, 1962, Ser. No. 222,095 Claims. (Cl. 273101.1)

This invention concerns a photoelectrically controlled target practicepistol.

According to the invention there is provided a pistol type of gun inwhich is a photoelectric cell responsive to light of predeterminedminimum brightness reaching the cell from an external light source. Thecell may be connected in a circuit including an amplifier, a suitablebell, lamp, counter or other signaling or indicating device, and anelectromagnet for actuating the signaling or indicating device. The cellwhich may be a photoconductor or other photosensitive device is mountedbehind an aperture set at the focal point of a positive lens. Thisoptical assembly is lined up or collimated with the gun sights. The cellserves as the sensor or input to the signal actuating circuit. Theamplifier receives and amplifies the input signal, and applies an outputsignal to the electromagnet for actuating the signaling or indicatingdevice. The gun has a trigger which momentarily operates a switch in thecircuit or momentarily opens an optical shutter in front of the sensor.If the gun is aimed directly on target at the light source, a hit isindicated by sounding of the bell, flashing of the lamp or other signal.The signal indicating a hit may be actuated directly by theelectromagnet in the circuit or may be tripped by the electromagnetafter having been cocked by initial trigger movement. The trigger may bearranged to connect a battery to the circuit momentarily or to exposethe cell momentarily to the target light. The bell may be struck by ahammer cocked by the trigger and released by an electromagnet armaturewhich acts as a sear, in a double-action type of pistol. In asingle-action type of pistol the hammer may be cocked manually. When ahit is scored, the electromagnet armature is actuated and allows afiring pin to be struck by the hammer. The hammer is released by thetrigger which also makes a momentary contact to activate theelectromagnet circuit. The struck pin impinges on the bell or gong toindicate the hit audibly.

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a pistol type ofgun of single or double trigger action, with a photoelectric sensor inthe gun arranged to receive light from a light target, the sensor beingin circuit with a signal actuating device for producing a signal whenthe gun is fired by trigger actuation simultaneously with impingement oflight from the light target upon the sensor.

Another object is to provide a gun as described, wherein the triggermomentarily closes a switch to apply an electric pulse to a signalactuating electromagnet or momentarily opens a shutter in front of thelight sensor to apply an electric pulse to the signal actuatingelectromagnet.

Still another object is to provide a gun as described wherein the signaldevice is struck by a member actuated by the electromagnet.

A further object is to provide -a gun as described wherein the signalactuating member is cocked manually in a single-action type of pistol oris cocked by the trigger in a double-action type of pistol.

The invention will be best understood from the following detaileddescription taken together with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pistol embodying the invention shownaimed at a light target.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view on an enlarged scale of the pistol,showing the interior thereof, part of the pistol case being removed.

" ice FIG. 3 is .a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale takenon line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to part of FIG. 2,certain parts being broken away to show internal construction.

FIG. 5 is another side elevational view of the pistol similar to FIG. 2,parts of the pistol case being broken away, and the pistol being infiring condition.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a part of the pistol case.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 6'.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view showing the inner side of the part ofthe pistol case of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of an electric circuit which may be employed in thepistol.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 of another pistolaccording to the invention.

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are fragmentary sectional views similar to parts ofFIG. 10, showing the pistol in cocking and firing positionsrespectively.

FIG. 13 is a diagram of another signal actuating circuit for a pistolaccording to the invention.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view partially diagrammatic in form of part ofthe pistol employing the circuit of FIG. 13.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in FIG. 1 a pistol having acase 21 formed by two separable hollow parts or sections 21a, 21b. Thepistol has a barrel 26 formed by casing sections 26a, 26b. At the frontof the barrel is lens 28 in mounting 29. The lens passes light from atarget light L to the interior of the barrel. The gun has a movabletrigger 30 extending into trigger guard 32. The gun has a handle orstock 34 at the rear of the case. The stock is formed by easing sections34a, 34b. Front sight 36 is secured to the top of the front end of thebarrel section 26a. Rear sight 38 is mounted at the upper rear edge ofthe case sections. Rear sight 38 has a central notch aligned with frontsight 36 which has an ofiset upper portion extending axially of thebarrel coplanar with mating edges of sections 26a, 26b.

FIGS. 25 show the hollow interior of pistol casing section 21a. In thesemicylindrical barrel portion 26a is a sernicylindrical bracket 40adjustably secured longitudinally of the barrel by two screws 43engaging the barrel wall and passing through slot 41 in the bracket. Atthe rear end of the bracket is a hollow housing 42 in which is disposeda photoelectric cell 44. This cell is aligned with the optical axis 0 ofthe lens 28. The cell has leads 45 connected to a transistor 46,resistor 47 and an electromagnet 48. The electromagnet has a movablearmature 50 provided with a depending finger 52 which engages one end ofa hammer lever 54 carrying a flexible arm 56 on which is mounted ahammer 57. Lever 54 pivots on a pin 58 fixed in the side of a mountingplate 53 in the pistol case; see FIGS. 2 and 3.

Lever 54 has an outwardly extending finger 59 normally contacting aninwardly extending finger 61 of a cocking lever 60. A spring 62 on pin58 biases the lever 54 counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 againstfinger 61. Cocking lever 60 pivots about a pin 64 secured to the plate53. Lever 60 has a hole 63 through which pin 64 extends. Around the pinis a sleeve 65; see FIG. 3. Coil spring 66 is'coaxial with the sleeve 65and bears on the body of lever 60. The spring 66 has one end 68 engagedwith a fixed pin 69 carried by plate 53; see FIG. 4. The spring 66biases .the lever 60 counterclockwise as viweed in FIG. 2. Rotation ofthe lever is stopped by an extension 70 of the lever bearing against afinger 72 at the bottom edge of the plate 53. Lever 60 can be tilted atan angle to plate 53 and moved axially of pin 64 laterally away from theplate 53 against tension in spring 66, as indicated by the arrow in FIG.3.

The cocking lever 60 is pivotable in a clockwise directrigger 30 whilelever 60 rotates clockwise.

tion by slidable engagement of a flat pawl 74 carried by trigger plate30a. The trigger plate pivots around a pin 76 and is biased in aclockwise direction by a spring 78 on pin 76. One end of the spring 78engages a pin 79 r on the pawl. The other end of the spring engages apin 80 on plate 53. Pawl 74 has an upwardly and outwardly facing edge 75slanted with respect to the plane of pawl 74. Tail 82 of lever 60 has aninwardly and downwardly facing bottom edge 83 slanted with respect tothe plane of lever 60 and located near edge 75. When trigger 30 isretracted rearwardly, pawl 74 advances counterclockwise so that its tip75' engages the tail 82 of lever 60 and turns the lever clockwise. Thetip 75 of pawl 74 passes the tail 82 on complete retraction of Onrelease of the trigger, the slanted edge 75 of the pawl 74 rotatingclockwise slips past the slanted edge 83 of the lever tail 82 while thelever 60 is moved laterally slightly axially of pin 64 against tensionin spring 66 to permit the pawl edge 75 to pass the lever tail 82. Afixed pin 86 on plate 53 serves as a stop element to prevent trigger 30from moving too far forwardly while the pawl is rotated clockwise afterthe trigger is released.

At the forward end of cocking lever 60 is a pin 90 on which is pivotallyengaged the bottom end of a book 92 which can move up and down as wellas pivot angularly. A coil spring 94 on pin 90 biases the upper end ofthe hook against the side of a rotatable drum 96. This drum is biasedcounterclockwise as viewed in FIGS. 2-5 by a coil spring 98 on shaft100. The drum has a bottom flange 102 carrying a pin 104 which contactsa pin 105 supported by stationary plate extension 53a. Pin 105 stopsrotation of the drum in a counterclockwise direction. The drum has acircumferential cut-out defining two opposing lands 108 and 110. Land110 abuts the underside of an insulated piece 112 carried by a movablespring contact 114. The contact is mounted in a stationary insulatedholder 116 which also carries a leaf spring contact 118 normally spacedfrom contact 114. Land 108 is near the upper end of hook 92.

Hook 92 is raised and engages land 108 when lever 60 turns clockwise.Hook 92 descends and rotates the drum 96 clockwise when the lever 60turns counterclockwise. Then land 110 raises the contact 114 to close anelectric circuit with contact 118. The circuit closure is only momentarysince the hook slips down past the land 108 as the drum is rotatedsufficiently clockwise by the descending hook to clear land 108.Disengagement of the book from land 108 occurs just after the tip 75 ofpawl 74 disengages from the tail 82 of clockwise rotated lever 60 uponretraction of the trigger. The released lever 60 then rotatescounterclockwise and hook 92 descends to turn drum 96. While hook 92descends it slips clear of land 108.

A gong or bell 120 is mounted in the casing just to the rear ofelectromagnet 48. The bell is positioned to be struck by hammer 57during firing operation of the pistol. Just to the front of the bell isa socket 122 in which is a lamp bulb 124. The socket is connected in thecircuit of the assembly.

A plurality of threaded posts 125, 126 and 127 are provided forreceiving screws which pass through holes 129 in the casing section 21bto secure the sections together; see FIGS. 68. A transparent plasticwindow 130 is fitted in an opening 132 in the casing section 21b. Thiswindow forms a transparent wall adjacent to the lamp bulb to make theflash of the lamp visible during firing of the pistol. If desired, thelamp can be mounted on the outside of the casing 21. A battery 136 isremovably held in a spring bracket 138 in stock section 34a. Thisbattery is connected in the circuit of the pistol assembly.

FIG. 9 illustrates one form of circuit 200 which may be employed inoperation of the pistol. Battery 136 is connected to contact 118 which,with movable spring in FIG. 5.

contact 114, constitutes a momentary closing switch. The switch contact114 is connected to one terminal 115 of the photoelectric cell 44 which,in this instance, is a photoconductive element whose electricalresistance varies upon change in incident light. The cell has thecharacteristic that its resistance is normally quite high and theresistance drops instantly when light of sufiicient brightness impingesthereon. One terminal of coil 117 of the electromagnet 48 and oneterminal of the lamp 124 are connected to terminal 115 of the cell 44and to switch contact 114.

Armature is normally biased away from the pole51 of the electromagnet byspring 50a shown in FIGS. 2-5. Transistor 46 has its base 140 connectedto the other terminal of the cell 44 and to one terminal of resistor 47which is connected in series with the cell across the terminals ofbattery 136. The emitter 142 of the transistor is connected to thepositive terminal of the battery and the collector 144 is connected tothe other terminals of both the electromagnet coil 117 and lamp 124.

FIGS. 2 and 5 show two successive stages of operation of the pistol. InFIG. 2, the assembly is shown in condition for firing. Suppose thepistol is aimed at a light source L of suflicient brightness and trigger30 is retracted or squeezed slowly. The tip 75' of pawl 74 will engagetail 82 of the cocking lever 60 which will pivot hammer lever 54 untilthe upper tip T of the lever 54 passes the depending finger 52 carriedby armature 50. At this instant the tip T will engage the finger 52 asshown in FIG. 2. This constitutes cocking of the pistol since hammer 57is then turned away from the bell and is in a position to strike thebell when the lever 54 is released. As the trigger is retracted, thecocking lever 60 turning clockwise moves the hook 92 longitudinally upward until the hooked end engages on land 108. Then after lever 60 isreleased by the pawl 74 and turns counterclockwise, the hook 92 movesdown and turns the drum 96 clockwise until the hook slips past land 108,so that land 110 momentarily closes contacts 114, 118 as shown If lightof sulficient brightness is reaching the photoelectric cell 44 throughlens 28, electric current will be passed by the cell and the transistorwill be biased to conduct. An amplified pulse will be applied to thelamp 124 which will flash and the armature 50 will be attracted to pole51. This will disengage finger 52 from tip T of the hammer lever 54 andthe hammer 57 will strike the bell. The lamp provides a visual signal ofa hit visible through window 130 while the bell audibly signals a hit.As the tip 75' of pawl 74 passes the tail 82 of the cocking lever 60,the lever 60 is released to rotate counterclockwise and hook 92 ispulled down. The drum 96 after release from the hook rotatescounterclockwise to its original position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, andthe contacts 114, 118 open to open the lamp and electromagnet circuitsand deenergize the transistor.

If insuificient light has been impinging on cell 44 at the instant whenthe switch contacts 114, 118 closed, then the hammer lever 54 wouldremain cocked on finger 52 until the next time of firing. The leverwould remain cocked until a hit was finally accomplished, whereupon thearmature 50 would be retracted and the bell would be struck. Due to themomentary closure of the switch contacts 114, 118, it is possible toeffect a hit indicated by sounding of the bell and lighting of the lamponly at the proper instant of firing. If the pistol is panned or sweptaround in an arc while the trigger is being squeezed, a hit will not beaccomplished unless the pistol is actually directly aimed on the lighttarget at the firing point of the pistol mechanism, i.e., when contacts114, 118 momentarily close.

FIGS. 10-12 illustrate a single-action type of pistol 20a. Parts ofpistol 20a corresponding to those of the double-action pistol 20 areidentically numbered. Pistol 2011 has a hammer 202 which is pivotable ona pin 204 and is manually retractable for cocking. The hammer is urgedinwardly counterclockwise as viewed in FIGS. -12 by a spring 206. At itslower end near pin 204 the hammer has a notch 210 which is engageable bya sear 21. The rear is a lever pivotable on a pin 214' and urgedclockwise by a leaf spring 216 secured to the inner side of the stockwall 21 8. The leaf spring engages the lower end of the rear while theupper end of the sear abuts the bottom end of the hammer. The upper endof the sear engages at notch 210 as shown in FIG. 11 when the hammer isretracted. A fixed pin 220 extending inwardly of the casing wall 221prevents clockwise rotation of the sear when it is engaged by the hammernotch.

A bell 120a is mounted on wall 221 by a bracket 224. Adjacent to thisbell is a massive weight 226 carried at one end of a pin or rod 228. Therod is slidably engaged between a fixed guide block 230 and a pair ofspaced fixed pins 232, 234 secured to the upper edge of wall 221. Therod carries a depending finger 236 to which is secured one end of aspring 238. The other end of the spring 23 8 is engaged on a fixed pin239. The spring 238 urges the rod 228 axially to the rear. The upwardlyextending finger 52a of the electromagnets armature 50' engages thefinger 236 and prevents full retraction to the rear of the rod. When theelectromagnet 48a is energized and armature 50' is attracted to pole '51of the electromagnet, then the finger 236 is disengaged from 52a and thefree end of the rod projects rearwardly beyond block 230 as shown inFIG. 12. The rod is stopped by pin 234.

Trigger '30 has a foot 240 at its rear end which contacts the bottom endof the sear 214 when the trigger is retracted or turned counterclockwiseagainst tension in spring 78. The trigger pivots the searcounterclockwise to release it from the hammer as shown in FIG. 12. Thetrigger has a pawl 74' disposed to contact insulation member 11211 onspring contact 11811. When the trigger is retracted pawl 74' depressescontact 118a to close a circuit with contact 1140. The closure ismomentary since the pawl slips past member 112a as the trigger isfurther retracted toward the rear of the trigger guard 32 and thecontacts open. When the trigger is released the pawl moves upwardly andbrushes past member 112a to the position shown in FIG. 11 withouttouching or closing the contacts 114a, 2118a.

In operation of the pistol 2011, the hammer will first be manuallycocked from the position of FIG. 10 to the position of FIG. 11 where thesear is engaged. Then if the trigger is retracted hammer 202 will bereleased. If light of insufiicient brightness impinges on photoelectriccell 44, the electromagnet 48a will now be energized and the armaturefinger 5211 will remain engaged with tfinger 236 of the rod 228. Thereleased hammer 202 will not strike the rod since the rod will notproject beyond stop block 230. If the trigger is retracted and closescontacts 114a, 118a at the instant when light of suflicien-t brightnessimpinges on the cell 44, then the rod 228 will be released and willretract to firing position. Then as the trigger releases the hammer, thehammer will strike the rearwardly projecting end of rod 228 and the rodwill be driven forwardly so that weight 226 strikes the bell. At thesame time lamp 124 will light since it is connected in parallel with theenergized electromagnet.

As the rod 228 is driven forwardly, the electromagnet 48a becomesdeenergized and armature 50' is released by pole 51 so that the finger52a again engages finger 236 and prevents retraction of rod 228 beyondthe block 230. If desired, weight 226 can be omitted so that the rod orpin 228 can strike the bell 120a directly after it is positioned to bestruck by the hammer, upon energization of the electromagnet.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate another circuit and firing mechanism. Thetrigger pawl 74a which turns on pin 76 is arranged to engage tail 82a atone end of a shutter bar 300. The shutter bar is biased by a coil spring301 upwardly axially in a tube 302 extending radially in pistol casing21 of a tube 304 extending through barrel 26. In tube 304 is mountedlens 28a and pho-toelecttric cell 44a. In front of the cell is apartition 305 having an aperture 606. Bar 300 carries a shutter disk 308normally blocking light from reaching the cell 44a. Cell 44a isconnected in signal circuit 200a. Other parts of the circuit 200acorrespond to those of circuit 200 (FIG. 9) except that switch contacts114, 118 are omitted.

As the trigger 30a is retracted against bias of spring 78 the pawl 74awill engage tail 82a as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 14 and willmomentarily retract the shutter 308 away from the aperture. As soon asthe shutter clears the aperture the pawl tip 75 passes the tail 82a andthe shuter tail is released to close the aperture. If at the instantthat the shutter is clear of aperture 306 the pistol is aimed at a lighttarget, then the signal circuit will be actuated. The resistance of cell4411 will decrease. Transistor 46a will be energized. The lamp 124 willflash and the armature 50 of electromagnet 48 will be attracted to pole51 to release the hammer lever and sound the bell 120. On release of thetrigger the slanted edge portion 75 of the pawl will deflect the shuttertail 82a laterally slightly to permit the pawl to pass the tail 82a andreturn to the solid line position shown in FIG. 14.

The lamp 124 in all cfiorms of the pistol described may be mounted onthe exterior of the case, if desired, so as to be visible on both sidesof the pistol when it flashes.

The invention as described above can be embodied in a single-action typeof pistol or a double-action type of pistol. The trigger can be arrangedto operate in conjunction with an electro-optical circuit to activatethe circuit momentarily either by closing a switch in the circuit or byoperating a shutter in the circuit. The signal device oontrolled by theelectro-optical circuit can be a bell, lamp, counter, or otherindicating means.

Although a limited number of embodiments of the invention have beendescribed, the invention is not limited thereto and many modificationsmay be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed and sought to be protected by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. A target practice pistol, comprising a hollow casing having a tubularbarrel at one end, a photoelectric cell in the casing exposable throughsaid barrel to a light target external of said casing, said light targetemitting light of sufiicient brightness to activate said cell, circuitmeans connected to said cell, power supply means in said casingconnected to said circuit means to energize the same, signal meansconnected to said circuit means and controllable thereby to indicatewhen said circuit means is energized, said circuit means including aswitch having normally open contacts to keep said circuit means in anormally deenergized state, whereby said circuit means is energized onlymomentarily while light from said target impinges on said cellsimultaneous with momentary closure of the switch contacts, a manuallymovable trigger disposed to cause the contacts of said switch to closeautomatically for only an instant at a time during each operativemovement of the trigger and then to permit the switch contacts to openautomatically and remain open during the remainder of said movement, sothat said circuit means is energized by said power supply means onlymomentarily while the contacts of said switch are momentarily closed andwhile the light from said target impinges on said cell, whereby saidsignal means is actuated only during the momentary instants of closureof the switch contacts occurring while the light from said targetimpinges on said cell to indicate that the axis of said barrel isprecisely aligned with said light target; said signal means comprisingan electromagnet having a movable armature, a cocking lever pivotable bysaid trigger, means actuated by the cocking lever for closing thecontacts of said switch momentarily, a hammer lever pivotable by thecocking lever and engageable by said armature when the trigger is movedin one direction, a hammer carried by said hammer lever, and a belldisposed adjacent the hammer, whereby the hammer strikes the bell whenthe electromagnet is energized to move the armature and release thehammer lever, said electromagnet being energized only during theinstants when said circuit means is energized.

2. A target practice pistol according to claim 1, wherein the cockinglever is movable laterally on its pivot, and wherein the trigger hasmeans slidably engageable with the (cocking lever to move the samelaterally when the trigger is moved in a direction opposite from saidone direction so that the trigger clears the cocking lever to return toits original position prior to movement.

3. A target practice pistol according to claim 1, wherein said circuitmeans and said signal means are entirely contained within said casing,so that aiming and firing of said pistol substantially preciselysimulates aiming and firing of a bullet discharging pistol.

4. A target practice pistol, comprising a hollow casing having a tubularbarrel at one end, a photoelectric cell in the casing exposable throughsaid barrel to a light target external of said casing, said light targetemitting light of sufiicient brightness to activate said cell, circuitmeans connected to said cell, supply means in said casing connected tosaid circuit means to energize the same, signal means connected to saidcircuit means and controllable thereby to indicate when said circuitmeans is energized, said circuit means including a switch havingnormally open contacts to keep said circuit means in a (normallydeenergized state, whereby said circuit means is energized onlymomentarily while light from said target impinges on said cellsimultaneous with momentary closure of the switch contacts, a manuallymovable trigger disposed to cause the contacts of said switch to closeautomatically for only an instant at a time during each operativemovement of the trigger and then to permit the switch contacts to openautomatically and remain open during the remainder of said movement, sothat said circuit means is energized by said power supply means onlymomentarily while the contacts of said switch are momentarily closed andwhile the light from said target impinges on said cell, whereby saidsignal means is actuated only during the momentary instants of closureof the switch cont-acts occurring while the light from said targetimpinges on said cell to indicate that the axis of said barrel isprecisely aligned with said light target; said signal means including anelectromagnet having a movable armature, a rod having a portionengageable by said armature when the electromagnet is deenengized tohold the rod in a retracted position, a weight carried by said rod, abell disposed adjacent the Weight for sounding when the weight is drivenagainst the bell, a manually pivotable hammer disposed to strike the rodwhen the rod is in an extended position near the hammer, the rodassuming the extended position when the electromagnet becomes energizedto move the armature out of engagement with the rod, and a searpivotable by the hammer and engageable therewith to hold the hammerapart from said rod, said trigger having a portion disposed to pivot thesear and release the hammer during movement of the trigger in onedirection thereof.

5. A target practice pistol, comprising a hollow casing having a tubularbarrel at one end, a photoelectric cell in the casing ex-posable throughsaid barrel to a light target external of said casing, said light targetemitting light of sufiicient brightness to activate said cell, circuitmeans connected to said cell, power supply means in said casingconnected to said circuit means to energize the same, signal meansconnected to said circuit means and controllable thereby to indicatewhen said circuit means is energized, said circuit means including aswitch having normally open contacts to keep said circuit means in anormally deenergized state, whereby said circuit means is energized onlymomentarily while light from said tanget impinges on said cellsimultaneous with momentary closure of the switch contacts, a manuallymovable trigger disposed to cause the contacts of said switch to closeautomatically for only an instant at a time during each operativemovement of the trigger and then to permit the switch contacts to openautomatically and remain open during the remainder of said movement, sothat said circuit means is energized by said power supply means onlymomentarily while the contacts of said switch are momentarily closed andwhile the light from said target impinges on said cell, whereby saidsignal means is actuated only during the momentary instants of closureof the switch contacts occurring while the light from saidtarget-impinges on said cell to indicate that the axis of said barrel isprecisely aligned with said light target; said signal means comprisingan electromagnet, a movable member adjacent the electromagnet, saidelectromagnet having an armature engaged with said member when theelectromagnet is deenergized, a bell disposed adjacent to the movablemember, a manually pivotable hammer disposed to strike said movablemember for sounding the bell, spring means engaged with said member forpositioning the same to be struck by the hammer when the electromagnetbecomes energized to release said member, a sear pivotable by the hammerand engageable therewith to hold the hammer apart from said member, saidtrigger having a portion disposed to pivot the sear and release thehammer during movement of the trigger in one direction thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,070,529 2/1937Falkenberg 250217 X 2,119,005 5/ 1938 Carter.

2,364,699 12/1944 Eastman 273-1011 X 2,418,822 4/1949 De Florez273-102.2 X 2,442,240 5/1949 Hooker et a]. 250--217 X 2,710,754 6/1955Varney 273101.1 2,894,117 7/1959 Koskey 273101.1 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 550,752 1/ 1943 Great Britain.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

J. D. WALL, Assistant Examiner.

1. A TARGET PRACTICE PISTOL, COMPRISING A HOLLOW CASING HAVING A TUBULARBARALLEL AT ONE END, A PHOTOELECTRIC CELL IN THE CASING EXPOSABLETHROUGH SAID BARALLE TO A LIGHT TARGET EXTERNAL OF SAID CASING, SAIDLIGHT TARGET EMITTING LIGHT OF SUFFICIENT BRIGHTNESS TO ACTIVATE SAIDCELL, CIRCUIT MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CELL, POWER SUPPLY MEANS IN SAIDCASING CONNECTED TO SAID CIRCUIT MEANS TO ENERGIZE THE SAME, SIGNALMEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CIRCUIT MEANS AND CONTROLLABLE THEREBY TOINDICATE WHEN SAID CIRCUIT MEANS IS ENERGIZED, SAID CIRCUIT MEANSINCLUDING A SWITCH HAVING NORMALLY OPEN CONTACTS TO KEEP SAID CIRCUITMEANS IN A NORMALLY DEENERGIZED STATE, WHEREBY SAID CIRCUIT IS ENERGIZEDONLY MOMENTARILY WHILE LIGHT FROM SAID TARGET IMPINGES ON SAID CELLSIMULTANEOUS WITH MOMENTARY CLOSURE OF THE SWITCH CONTACTS, A MANUALLYMOVABLE TRIGGER DISPOSED TO CAUSE THE CONTACTS OF SAI SWITCH TO CLOSEAUTOMATICALLY FOR ONLY AN INSTANT AT A TIME DURING EACH OPERATIVEMOVEMENT OF THE TRIGGER AND THEN TO PERMIT THE SWITCH CONTACTS TO OPENAUTOMATICALLY AND REMAIN OPEN DURING THE REMAINDER OF SAID MOVEMENT, SOTHAT SAID CIRCUIT MEANS IS ENERGIZED BY SAID POWER SUPPLY MEANS ONLYMOMENTARILY WHILE THE CONTACTS OF SAID SWITCH ARE